Reducing box



A. BERMAN REDUGING BOX Sept. 29, 1936.

Filed Dec. 4, 1935 IN VENTOR. AA/-MM 5f/@MAM ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 29, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 11 Claims.

This invention relates to boxes, and more particularly it pertains tothe type of box in which commodities such for example as cereals, soappowders and such merchandise are offered for sale.

Such commodities are generally stored in their original packages by thehousewife until the contents are completely consumed, after which thebox is disposed of.

It frequently happens, and this is particularly true if the contents ofa box are such as are infrequently used, that the supply becomesentirely exhausted before the housewife is aware of the fact.Furthermore, such boxes are generally of comparatively large size andoccupy considerable storage space which, in many instances, is limited.

It is the object of the present invention to improve the construction ofall such boxes in which the contents are stored until consumed and so toconstruct such boxes that the contents will at all times be protectedagainst deleterious foreign elements and all of this in a new and novelmanner which will not impart any disadvantages to the manufacture or useof the box.

A feature of the invention resides in a novel construction whereby thebox may be reduced in size from time to time as its contents areconsumed.

Another feature of the invention resides in a vnovel constructionwhereby even though the box is reduced in size by the removal ofportions thereof, a closure for the box will at all times be provided.

A further feature of the invention resides in a novel constructionwhereby the closure aforementioned is formed by parts which are integralwith the body portion of the box instead of being a separate element.

Still a further feature of the invention resides in the provision ofmeans for securing or retaining the closure in its closed position.

Other features of the invention relate to certain novel and improvedconstructions, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafterdescribed and particularly pointed out in the claims, the advantages ofwhich will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in theart.

The invention will be clearly understood from the accompanying drawingillustrating the invention in its preferred form and the followingdetailed description of the constructions therein shown.

1n the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a complete box constructed inaccordance with the present invention, the box being illustrated in itsoriginal lclosed form,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the box shown 5 in Figure 1, after ithas been partially reduced in size, the box being shown in a partiallyopen position, and

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view partly broken awayillustrating the several parts in the position which they occupy whenthe parts are folded to form a closure.

Referring to the drawing by reference character and particularly toFigure 1, the numeral I0 designates the box proper. YThe box illustratedis of rectangular form but may, if desired, be of any other shapealthough I prefer to make it of angular conformation. The referencenumeral I2 designates the front wall and I4 designates the rear wall.The reference numeral I6 20 designates oneend wall of the box, thereference numeral I8 designating the opposed end wall of the box. Thetop wall of the box is designated 20, the bottom wall thereof beingdesignated 22.

Extending entirely around the box at a point below the defining edge ofthe top Wall 20 thereof, there is a crease or score line 24. Thelocation of this score line with reference to the defining edges of thetop wall 20 is important for a reason which will now be specificallyexplained. This score or crease line 24 forms a panel 26 in the upperportion of the front wall I2; a panel 28 in the upper portion of theside wall I8; a panel 30 in the upper portion of the rear wall I4; and apanel 32 in the upper portion of the side wall I6, see Figure 1. Thesepanels 26, 28, 30, and 32 are adapted to fold inwardly of the box toform a closure therefor and in order that this may be accomplished, thewidth of these panels, that is, their dimension from top to bottomshould not be greater than the thickness herein referred to, being thedistance between the front and rear walls thereof.

Below the score or crease line 2d there is ya second score or creaseline 34 which, like the score or crease line 2d, extends entirely aroundthe box. This score or crease line 34 forms in lconjunction with thescore or crease line 24 a second series of panels, as will now bepointed out; a panel 36 in the front wall I2 of the box; a panel 38 inthe side wall I8 of the box; a panel lll] in the rear wall Ill of thebox; and al panel lila in the side wall I6 of the box. These panels aresimilar to the panels 26-32 in that they are of a width which does notexceed the thickness of the box as heretofore explained. In the presentembodiment of the invention I have shown but two sets of panels whichare adapted to form closures for the box, but it is obvious that Whereoccasion would permit, as in the case of large boxes, any desired numberof sets of panels may be employed Without departing from the 'spirit ofthe invention.

While the box may be severed along the lines of fold which form thecorners 42 of the box to separate the several panels of each set fromone another and to thereby permit of their folding into overlappingrelation to one another to form a closure for the box, I prefer toprovide separate lines of severance forthis purpose. The lines ofseverance just mentioned may be score lines or lines of perforations, asmay also the score or crease lines 24 and 34 for that matter. The linesof severance by means of which the several panels may be separated fromone another are designated 44, and it will be noted that they are formedin the end walls of the box, closely adjacent the corner folds thereofand extending parallel with said corner folds. Such a construction andarrangement provides, when the panels of any one set are separated fromone another, end panels which are of a length which will convenientlyfold inwardly -without bulging or otherwise distorting the shape of thebox. In speaking of the length of the end panels, it will be understoodthat I mean their dimension in the direction of from front to'rear ofthe box.

I will now describe the manner in which a box constructed in accordancewith the present ini vention is adapted to operate.

Starting with a full box which is closed, as illustrated in Figure l,the box is opened in any desired manner to permit of the removal of aportion of its contents. The -box is used in this state until the levelof its contents is at, or slightly below the score or crease line 24.When this condition is obtained, the top wall 20 is preferably entirelyremoved and the upper pan` els 26, 28, 3U and 32 are severed from oneanother along the lines of severance designated 44. With the panels thusseparated, they are folded inwardly of the box into overlappingrelation, the end panels being preferably folded in rst, said inwardlyfolded panels forming a. closure which replaces the end wall 20 whichhas been removed.

While it may not 'be necessary, I prefer to provide means for securingthe inwardly folded panels in their closure-forming position. In theaccompanying drawing, I have illustrated one such means as consisting ofa tongue 46 formed preferably as an integral part of the front panel ofeach series, which tongue is adapted for reception in an opening 48 inthe corresponding rear panel of each series, these openings being hereinillustrated as a slit.

When the above described operation has been carried out it will beapparent that the box will have been reduced in length equal to thewidth of the panels 26 and 30 in the upper series of panels, thusreducingthe size of the box, and accordingly requiring less storagespace therefor. When the contents of the box have been reduced to apoint below the lower score or crease line, which in thelpresentembodiment of the invention is designated 34, the above operation isrepeated, the several panels 36, 38, 40, and 42 then constituting theclosure for the box.

In its finally reduced state, the box will be of such reduced size thatthe housewife will have a visual indication to the effect that thecommodity contained in such reduced box is at a low point and should bereplenished, which is important where a particular commodity forms apart of a diet which must be strictly adhered to.

Where the box is used as a package for granular material, such forexample as salt or sugar, I provide a plurality of scored or perforatedsections 60 which may, as the box is reducedv in size, be removed toprovide pouring openings 62 as illustrated in`Figure 2.

Thus it will be apparent that the present invention provides a box inwhichthe objects of the invention are fully realized, and while theinvention has been herein illustrated in a preferred form, it is to beunderstood that it is not to be limited to the specific constructionillustrated and that it may be practiced in forms other than that shownwithout departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is:

1. A box of the type described comprising a main body portion, and aplurality of spaced horizontal and vertical lines of demarcationdividing the body portion thereof into a plurality of panels, saidpanels being severable along one group of lines and foldable along theother group of lines to provide flaps foldable upon one another to forma closure for the box.

2. A box of thetype described comprising a main body portion, and aplurality of spaced horizontal and vertical lines of demarcationdividing the body portion thereof into a plurality of panels, saidpanels being severable along one group of lines and foldable along theother group of lines to provide iiaps foldable upon one another to forma closure for the box, said panels being bodily removable as thecontents of the box is disposed of.

3. A box of the type described comprising a main body portion, and aplurality of crease or score lines arranged in spaced groups extendingaround the box in a substantially horizontal plane, the groups of creaseor score lines being spaced from one another a distance slightly lessthan the thickness of the box and lines of severance extending angularlyfrom and cooperating with said first-named lines to form a plurality offlaps adapted to be folded one upon another to form a closure for thebox.

4. A box of the type described comprising a main body portion, aplurality of spaced crease or score lines extending around the box in asubstantially horizontal plane, vertical lines of severance extendingangularly from the first-named lines and cooperating therewith to form aplurality of flaps adapted for folding one upon another to form aclosure for the box, and means for securing said flaps inclosure-forming position.

5. A box of the type described comprising a main body portion, aplurality of crease or score lines extending around the box in asubstantially horizontal plane, the crease or score lines being spacedfrom one another a distance slightly less than the thickness of the boxto provide a plurality of panels, vertical lines of severance dividingthe panels into a plurality of flaps adapted to be folded one uponanother to form a closure for the box, and means for securing said flapsin closureforming position.

6. A box of the type described comprising a main body portion, aplurality of score or crease 75 lines extending around the boxbetweenits ends,

said crease or score lines dividing the sidewalls of 1 the box into aplurality of panels,lines of severance extending angularly from saidfirst-named lines and dividing thepanels into'aplurality of flapsadapted to fold one upon another to form a closure for the box andcooperating means car-v ried by two opposed flaps for securing saidpanels in their closure-forming position.

box and formed in the end walls thereof to provide inwardly foldingpanels of a width less than the thickness of the box, score orl creaselines extending horizontally around the box and divid- 1 ing the bodyportion thereof into a plurality of inwardly folding panels, said scoreor crease lines being spaced a distance less than the thickness of thebox to provide inwardly foldable panels of ai width less than thethickness of the box, said panels being bodily removable along theirattached sides as the contents of the box are disposed of. f

.9.A box of the type described comprising a main body portion, scorelines forming severing lines extending parallel with the corners of thebox and formed in the end walls thereof to provide inwardly foldingpanels of a width less than the thickness of the box, score or creaselines extending horizontally around the box and dividing the bodyportion thereof into a plurality of inwardly folding panels, said scoreor crease lines being spaced a distance less than the thickness of thebox to provide inwardly foldable panels of a width less than thethickness. of the box,- said panels being' bodily removable along theirattached sides as the contents of the box are disposed of,l and meansfor securing said panels in their inwardly folded position.

10. A'box ofthe type described comprising a main body portion, scorelines forming severing lines extending parallel with the corners of thebox and formed in the end walls thereof to provide inwardly foldingpanels of a width less than the thickness of the box, score or creaselines ex-` tending horizontally around the box and dividing the bodyportion thereof into a plurality of inwardly folding panels, said scoreor crease lines being spaced a distance less than the thickness of thebox to provide inwardly foldable panels of a width less than thethickness of the box,4 said panelslbeing bodily removable along theiratposed of, andmeans for securing said panels in their inwardly foldedposition, said last mentioned means comprising interlockingmeans carriedby two opposed panels and adapted for interlocking engagement when thepanels are folded inwardly as` described.

l1. A box ofthe type described comprising a main bodyportion,- scorelines forming severing lines extending parallel with the corners of thebox and formed in the end walls thereof to provide inwardly foldingpanels of a width less than theV thickness of the box, score or creaselines extending horizontally around the box and dividing the bodyportion thereof into a. plurality of inwardly folding panels, said scoreor crease lines being spaced ai distance less than the thickness of thebox to provide inwardly foldable panels of a width less than thethickness of the box, said panels being bodily removable along theirattached sides as the contentsof the box are disposed of, and-means 4forsecuring said panels vin .their inwardly folded position, said lastmentioned means comprising a tongue on one of said panels and a slotprovidedin an opposed panel, said slot being adapted to receive saidtongue when thel panels are folded inwardly. l

ABRAHAM ,BERMAN tached sides as the contents of the box are dis-

